In another sign that the federal investigation into Jefferson Parish government corruption is heating up, at least three Parish Council members were served subpoenas Thursday, a day after former Parish President Aaron Broussard received a target letter describing possible criminal charges against him.

Councilmen Chris Roberts and Elton Lagasse said they were contacted by the FBI and told they would be receiving directives to appear before the grand jury on Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. at U.S. District Court in New Orleans. Lagasse said he received his subpoena around 2 p.m., and council Chairman Tom Capella and Councilwoman Cynthia Lee-Sheng said they also received one. Late Thursday, Roberts said he had not been served.

Parish President John Young, who was elected in October to replace Broussard, said an FBI agent delivered him a subpoena about 4:30 p.m. at the Joseph S. Yenni Building in Elmwood. Young, previously a council member, said he understands all council members were to be summoned. Lee-Sheng said she was told the same thing.

"I'm not a target or a subject (of the investigation) as far as I know," Young said.

Lagasse and Roberts said the subpoenas were not a surprise, given recent developments that a number of former government administrators, including Broussard and his ex-wife, Karen Parker, had received target letters in the past week.

Roberts surmised that the subpoenas are the next step in the continuing investigation that began 15 months ago into wire fraud, misuse of federal money and conspiracy.

"Oftentimes for procedural purposes, the grand jury will call witnesses to better understand the operation of government,'' Roberts said. "It it's obvious that target letters are an indication the investigation is ongoing and is probably stepping up. It it is what is.''

"We're going to wait and see,'' Lagasse said about potential questions the grand jury ask. "I don't have any idea what it's about.''

Council members Louis Congemi and Byron Lee could not be reached for comment.

Broussard made an abrupt exit last January, just four days after his top aide, Tim Whitmer, quit under fire. They left amid news media disclosures that Whitmer and his wife owned an insurance agency doing business with a number of parish contractors. Broussard has admitted doing $5,000 of "legal work" for the insurance agency.

Two months later, Parish Attorney Tom Wilkinson resigned. He, too, had done business with Whitmer, and he was running an office that included some paralegals who either were not qualified for their jobs or were paid. Among them was Broussard's ex-wife, Karen Parker.

In addition, federal authorities are examining a landmark $160 million contract that the parish signed with River Birch landfill to handle the parish's garbage disposal. Broussard and Whitmer pushed that deal in 2009, saying it would save the parish as much as $23 million over the life of the contract.

Later it was disclosed that Whitmer's wife, Dawn Whitmer, had a contract to provide health insurance to River Birch employees.

Lee-Sheng said the FBI agent who delivered her grand jury subpoena specifically mentioned that investigators were interested in asking about the River Birch deal.